Call of the Wild: Great Outdoors Expo brings the outdoors indoors

The Big Outdoors Expo — held at the Utah Valley Contention Center in Provo — highlights all-things-outdoors and all-things-Utah. Activities range from hunter safety, to archery, to golf instruction. A Boy Scout demonstration is also on the schedule (and scouts in uniform get in free).

Tony Abbott has traveled the world exploring the great outdoors — but no matter how far he travels, his roots will always be firmly planted in Utah County.

Tony was the host of The Big Outdoors radio show on KFAN for nine years. He often recorded the show live on hunting and fishing adventures. The Mapleton father-of-three also served as the general manager for the Mule Deer Foundation. These days, he splits his year between New Zealand, Alaska, Mexico and other exotic locations where he works as a hunting and fishing guide. He is excited to bring the community together to revel in the wealth of wilderness opportunities we have right here in our own backyard.

He is bringing his love of the outdoors indoors at The Big Outdoors Expo on February 27, 28 and March 1. The expo will be held at the Utah Valley Convention Center and will include exhibitors representing outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, golfing and water sports.

Tony’s self-published book, “Sportsman’s I.Q.,” tells his life story and offers his trademark no-holds-barred opinion on everything under the sun. Tony is a Provo high grad and now lives in Mapleton with his wife and three children.

“Utah County has so much to offer when it comes to the outdoors,” Tony says. “Everything is right here.”

Some of the exhibitors Tony is most excited about at the Big Outdoors Expo include local companies like Mossback, who will be providing a world class hunting trophy display, as well as nationally-acclaimed wildlife photographer Rob Daugherty. Visitors can also get a look at the current world record grizzly bear shot by a local.

Outdoor lovers of all ages are coming together to celebrate the outdoors at the expo. The Boy Scouts of America will be hosting an educational “Leave No Trace” booth, and a special banquet dinner for wheelchair-bound hunters will be held the night before the expo.

BYU football legend Ty Detmer will be at The Big Outdoors Expo to talk with visitors about his hunting ranch in Texas. Expo guests can enter to win a fishing trip for two at Pybus Point Lodge in Alaska.

The expo is open from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. General admission is $10 for a single day and $14 for multi-day. Kids 11 and under are free.